Published: December 11, 2012

LANSING, Mich. — Over the shouts of thousands of angry protesters gathered outside the State Capitol here, Michigan’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill that would vastly reduce the power of organized labor in this traditionally strong union state.

The 58-to-51 vote was the first piece of a two-part package, that would, among other things, bar workers from being required to pay union fees as a condition of employment.

Recall! Recall! Recall!” union supporters cried out from the gallery.

Before the vote, Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a 64-to-46 majority over Democrats, were desperately trying to offer amendments to the measures in order to derail them. Among the suggestions: Send the question to a public vote. So far, all amendments had been rejected.

“This is being forced down peoples’ throats,” said Jon M. Switalski, a Democrat, speaking against the legislation. “It’s being done so in a very poor way — in lame-duck with no committee meetings.”

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This is a sad day for unions and for America. So what the Michigan GOP has just done is make it harder for competitive wages to remain while weakening the unions. Sad and very transparent. Well 2014 mid-term election is around the corner so time to vote some of these people out..